Handbook of Operating Procedures

Parental Leave

Leave for the birth of a natural child or for the adoption or foster care placement of a child under three years of age

Scope:

Eligible employees

Date Reviewed:

March 2015

Responsible Office:

Human Resources

Responsible Executive:

Vice President and Chief Human Resources Office

I. POLICY AND GENERAL STATEMENT

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ("university") provides parental leave for eligible employees. Parental leave may not exceed 12 weeks during the 12 month period following the commencement of leave. The approval of parental leave by the university constitutes a guarantee of employment for a specified period of time, subject to fiscal constraints.

A. Eligibility

Regular employees are eligible if they have worked less than 12 months with the State of Texas or have worked fewer than 1,250 hours during the 12 months immediately preceding the leave. Regular employees are those employees who are appointed for a minimum of four and one-half consecutive months with a definite job assignment that must be 50 percent time or more. (See HOOP Policy 17 Appointment Status.) Regular employees who have worked 12 months with the State of Texas and worked 1,250 hours or more during the 12 months preceding the leave should consult HOOP Policy 106 Family and Medical Leave. Parental leave may be granted for, and begins on the date of:

the birth of a natural child; or

the adoption or foster care placement of a child under three years of age.

B. Requirement of Using Paid Leave

Employees must first use all available and appropriate paid leave and then the remainder of the leave period will be leave without pay. See HOOP Policy 29 Paid Leave Eligibility to determine appropriate use of paid leave. Note: The use of sick leave is strictly limited to those situations clearly falling within the definition of sick leave contained in HOOP Policy 30 Sick Leave.

II. PROCEDURE

A. Leave Requests

The employee will submit a request in writing to the immediate supervisor detailing the reason(s) for the request and indicating what duration of leave is desired.

B. Response to Leave Requests

The supervisor should determine if the employee is eligible for Parental Leave and inform the employee in writing of the determination.

C. Payments for Medical Insurance

It is the employee’s responsibility to contact Employee Benefits and make arrangements for any benefits issues.

D. Extension of Leave

An employee who is unable to return to work upon the expiration of the leave or who wishes to extend the leave may request an extension. At the discretion of the department head, the leave may be extended for a specified period of time as long as the total period of parental leave does not exceed 12 weeks. For information on personal leave, refer to HOOP Policy 105 Personal Leave.

E. Accrual of Paid Leave and Holiday Pay

Parental leave is considered unpaid leave by the university. Vacation and sick leave do not accrue during any full calendar month for which an employee is on unpaid leave. An employee is not eligible to receive holiday pay while on an unpaid leave.